Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the more commonly
asked questions about community colleges,
universities and Green River. If you
do not find all the information you
are looking for, please
send us your questions and we will
get right back to you with the answers.

About
Community Colleges:

Community colleges are
a major sector of the U.S.
education system. More than
11 million students, about
46 percent of all undergraduate
students, attend community
colleges throughout the
United States.

Community colleges provide
the first two years of university
education, called “lower
division courses,” preparing
students to transfer to
a university for two years
to complete their bachelor’s
degree. This system is called
“2+2” – two years at a community
college plus two years at
a university equals a bachelor
degree.

The community college
also offers two-year associate
degrees in many fields;
one and two year certificates
for shorter courses focusing
on career training as well
as short term non credit
programs.

Close to 100,000 international
students attend community
colleges, about 39% of all
international undergraduate
students in the United States.
Green River Community College
has been serving international
students since 1985 and
currently has over 1,000
students from over thirty-two
countries.

The curriculum at a community
college and a university
are the same. Both the community
college and the university
are accredited by the same
agency. However, the community
college costs less money,
classes are smaller and
you receive more attention
from your instructors and
advisors.

It is easy to transfer
from GRCC to a university.
Green River students are
admitted to top universities
all over the US, including
University of Washington, UC Berkeley, Indiana, Michigan
and hundreds of other excellent
schools. Six universities,
including University of
Oregon and San Francisco
State, also offer conditional
guaranteed admission to
GRCC international students.

Upon acceptance to Green
River Community College
you will be sent an I-20.
You then need to bring the
I-20, your passport, and
a bank statement to a United
States Embassy to apply
for a student visa. It is
best to check the Web site
of the Embassy in your country
for up-to-date information.

No, you don’t have to
take the TOFEL; you may
take our English Placement
Assessment when you arrive.
However, if you have a TOFEL
score of 173/500 you are
immediately eligible for
academic classes. In the
event you do not qualify
there is an English as a
Second Program available
to assist you in preparing
for the college program.

About
student life at GRCC:

Auburn is a suburb of
Seattle, approximately 35
miles south of the city-center.
It is about 20 minutes from
Seattle-Tacoma International
Airport. Auburn has a population
of 45,000 and is located
on the Green River.

You can live on campus.
Campus Corner Apartments
is a wonderful place to
live and make friends with
Americans and others from
all over the world. You
may also choose to live
with a host family or in
a nearby apartment. Our
housing department will
work with you to find the
type of accommodations you
desire.

There are both intramural
and varsity sports at the
college. In addition, there
is a full-time activities
coordinator for international
students. Trips, clubs,
sports, cultural activities
are arranged on a continual
basis for international
students.

Yes and no. You can work
on campus at any time. There
are more students wanting
jobs than there are jobs;
however, so you have to
compete for them. There
are special circumstances
which allow you to work
off campus after attending
for a number of quarters.
Ask an advisor when you
get to the College.